Wheeling Homicide: Help Murphy Family Pay Funeral Expenses

WHEELING, IL — A coworker of Ja'Nya Murphy, who was found dead in Wheeling this month, has started a GoFundMe to help the Murphy family pay for her funeral — and for the funeral of her 1-year-old daughter, Jaclyn "Angel" Dobbs, who died as well.

Murphy, 21, was found slain in her Wheeling apartment on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Dobbs was kidnapped, Wheeling police said, and two days later she was found dead in a retention pond in northwest Indiana.

"Ja'Nya was a co-worker of mine and our families are very close. Ja'Nya was a very hardworking, kind, genuine young lady," organizer Ronnie Allan wrote in the GoFundMe. "Angel was very special. She was full of energy and had an amazing personality. She would brighten up a room."

Read more — Wheeling Homicide: Pingree Grove Man Accused Of Strangling Mother

In 11 days, the GoFundMe has amassed $22,240 for the Murphy family. Its goal is to raise $50,000.

"This donation was created to help the family for funeral expenses," Allan wrote. "Anything will help the Murphy family during this horrific time."

Ahmeel Fowler, 26, was named a person of interest in the case involving Murphy, with whom he reportedly had a relationship, police said. He was taken into custody at the request of the Wheeling Police in Springfield on Nov 10.

The Cook County Medical Examiner said Murphy was strangled and died from asphyxiation as the result of a homicide. A cause of death for Dobbs has not been released.

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